Please read this
entire page before sending artwork. The info on this page will help
keep your order from being delayed because of problems with improper
artwork.

Artwork
Submission

Formats
that Contagious Graphics can accept for artwork.

1. The original artwork, image or
photograph, as long as it is no larger than 8.5 x 11 (so we can scan
it). DO NOT fold your artwork to fit it in a small envelope. PLEASE
include a sturdy piece of cardboard with your original in a correctly
sized envelope to prevent bending. Be sure to use the correct amount
of postage or your image will not reach us.

2. Digital vector artwork saved
from Adobe Illustrator CS3 (or earlier) or Macromedia Freehand MX (or
earlier). Convert all text to paths/outlines to eliminate
the need for the fonts to be present when we open your file. Paths also
make logos more stable and less likely for spacing to change between
letters or words. PLEASE INCLUDE ALL FONTS AND IMAGES IF YOU USE THEM.
DO NOT EMBED IMPORTED IMAGES. LINK ALL IMPORTED IMAGES TO THE FILE.

3. Digital artwork saved as a TIFF,
PSD, or JPEG file from Adobe Photoshop CS3 (or earlier) or another similar
pixel based graphics program. These images MUST be created at 300 DPI
resolution at the final size you want your image to print. (i.e. if
you're printing 3" x 6" stickers, the artwork should be created at that
size at 300 DPI aka 900 x 1800 pixels). If you save a file as a JPEG,
DO NOT compress it below a 9/high quality. The more you compress a JPEG
the worse it will look when printed. Avoid JPEG's if you can. DO NOT
TAKE ARTWORK FROM THE WEB. It is usually saved at 72 DPI, which will
print HORRIBLY (and may also be illegal if the image does not belong
to you)! Do not resize/blow up an image from 72 DPI to 300 DPI as it
will still print badly (a low resolution pixel image will look even
more pixelated when blown up). If you are sending Black & White
art with gradients, make sure to change it to Grayscale Mode before
saving. If the artwork is solid Black & White change it to Bitmap
mode. Doing these things will reduce your file size enabling you to
email the file to us easily.

4.
We can accept digital artwork via our FTP upload site (10 MB maximum)
and e-mail (3 MB maximum). Files that are compressed as ZIP (.zip) or
StuffIt (.sit) files are fine. You can also physically mail us your
file on a variety of digital media, such as a floppy disk (if the file
will fit), a ZIP disk or CD-R. Let us know that you are sending artwork
to us so we will know to expect it.

And
now a word about drop shadows, gradients, photographs and what halftone
dots are...

There is
always a difference between the appearance of a digital artwork file
on the computer monitor and what can be produced when it is actually
printed. Below is a example of a single color sticker with a drop shadow/blur
around the type. In Photoshop the gradient is produced by varying tones
of black and grey pixels. This gives appearance of a smooth gradient
when viewed on your computer monitor. When the same image is screenprinted,
you are trying to recreate that gradient using only one color of ink.
In printing, this is called a halftone screen. A halftone screen is
comprised of tiny halftone dots of ink used to recreate gradients or
the various tones in a photograph. It is a similar process to what you
see with pictures in a newspaper. The examples below show an enlarged
section of both a screenprinted sticker with a gradient "glow"
and a photographic image using only one ink color (black in this case).
Close up you can see the dots, but at a distance of about 2 to 3 ft.
your eye blends the dots into a smooth gradient.

The design the way it looks in Photoshop

A blown
up section of the sticker after it is screenprinted.

A
photograph the way it looks in Photoshop

A
blown up section of the photo after it is printed with halftone
dots.

Be
aware if you will be using gradients in your design, that this is how
they will look when printed. If you do not like the way gradients look
when printed, the alternative is to just use solid areas of color (which
means using additional ink colors).

ALSO
NOTE: IF YOU ARE DOING A 4 COLOR PROCESS (not 4 spot
ink colors, but an actual 4C Process aka Full Color) SHIRT
OR STICKER THE GRADIENTS WILL TURN OUT A LOT SMOOTHER DUE TO THE HIGHER
LINE SCREEN USED FOR 4C PROCESS.

If you have any questions about the above information or some other
question about artwork, please give us a call (704.529.5600) or e-mail
us and we will be glad to help you out.

Poster
Art Submission

The simpler the better - Since people
are viewing it from moving cars or glancing at it while moving from
section to section at a record store, in a club, etc.
Make it eye catching - Use bold logos, cool artwork, or a
photograph. When using photos or shaded images (read about gradients/halftones)
the halftone dots will be large just remember the viewing distance is
normally 4-6 feet not 6 inches from the viewer's face.

Sticker
templates - For your convenience, we have provided Standard
Sticker Templates you can download. The file options available are
EPS, TIFF and PSD. You can use these templates to help create your artwork
and make sure you have everything set up correctly from the beginning.

Send
it to us - We can accept almost any electronic file where
the art is 300 pixels per inch (DPI is the same thing)
at the actual final print size. We can also
accept original artwork, photos, clean sharp laser printed images (NO
inkjet printouts, please!) sent via traditional U.S. Mail. DO NOT fold
your artwork to fit it in a small envelope. PLEASE include a sturdy
piece of cardboard with your original in a correctly sized envelope
to prevent bending. Be sure to use the correct amount of postage or
your image will not reach us.

Keep it simple - A
simple, high-contrast design works best. Most stickers we make are smaller
sizes than the traditional "bumper sticker." Therefore, designs should
be clear, easy to read and use bold lettering. Look at our sticker samples
for some ideas.

Watch
your borders/inset - For a Standard
Sticker, you need to keep a
solid 1/8 inch (0.125") border around your artwork
of either White, Black, Red or Yellow. If not, we will need to add one
around the artwork for you and this could delay your order. We do not
do custom multi-color bleeds (this is when an element of your design
(such as text) goes to the edge of the sticker) on Standard
Sticker orders of 500 or less. We can do custom
multi-color bleeds on Custom
Stickers orders of 500 or more.

Use
solid colors - Try
to avoid shading, gradations, and blends. Designs
or photographs with fine shading may drop out and will be created using
halftone dots. Use solid fills and outlines for best results.

Create
a smart design
- Use reversed/inverted images and printed backgrounds to your advantage.
Black text printed on a white background can seem pretty plain, try
reversing/inverting your image. You will end up with what appears to
be white text (the vinyl showing through) on a black background (the
actual printed ink). This design will have higher contrast and is more
"eye catching".

4
ink colors doesn't mean "Process color"
- We can print
4 spot ink colors (or more) or 4 Color Process (aka 4C Process, CMYK,
Full Color), but they are NOT the same thing. 4 Color Process is how
full color magazine images are printed. Semi-opaque Cyan, Magenta, Yellow,
and Black ink are printed so that they combine optically to create the
appearance of a full color image. Please be aware that 4 Color Process
WILL NOT look as good on a sticker as it does in a magazine (screenprinters
use larger halftone dot screens than offset magazine printers). 4C Process
stickers and 4 spot ink color stickers are available as a custom sticker
order and are priced the same.